From k2mojo@groovedaddies.com Tue Feb 17 10:05:50 2004
Subject:Re: KB3 Mode on Kurzweil K and PC2 Series and Classic Keys ROM

Hi Greg,
I've been writing and griping about this subject ever since Kurzweil
released KB3 Mode, and if you search the archives of CWSG, KurzList
and Sonik you'll probably find my rants. I've been a Kurzweil
devotee for over 8 years now; currently I own a K2600, K2VP, PC2R,
two SP88's and a MicroEnsemble. I have tweaked and tweaked and have
never been able to get either my K2600 or PC2R to sound as good as
my CX-3. Mainly the culprit is the KDFX Leslie sim; it's just plain
weak. I have disabled the rotary on the K2600 & PC2R and played
them through my Leslie 147 and they sounded great, so the Hammond
emulation on the Kurz's is really pretty decent minus the Leslie
sim. I had high hopes that my PC2R (with a Roland RS-9 as a
controller) would be an all-in-one module for me, but after one gig
without my CX-3 I was forced to go back to a two keyboard rig.
Everytime I've tried to get suggestions from Kurzweil reps (most of
whom have since left Kurzweil) I either got excuses, tweaks that
didn't help or I was ignored, I assume mainly because Kurzweil just
won't admit that Korg and Nord have got them beat, even after they
spent all that R&D coming up with KB3 Mode. While technically you
should be able to tweak in exactly what you want on the Kurz,
something is clearly missing, and since I'm not a sound engineer or
sound developer I don't know what it is. If it really is possible
to get it right, why can't they just make it sound right the first
time out of the box. Unlike techno/electronica synth programmers
who love to tweak, very few Hammond players are interested in
spending all their energy tweaking to death just to get the a decent
Hammond/Leslie sound.
IMHO, Kurzweil does most realistic sounds better than anyone else,
which is why I've stuck with them for so long. However I've long
given up on ever getting my Kurzweil's to replace my CX-3.
I'm sure I'll wind up buying the new Classic Keys ROM2 for the PC2R,
but given Kurzweil's past 'announce date -> release date'
performance, it'll be 2005 before we actually see it.

Ed Fliege
k2mojo@groovedaddies.com

--- In CloneWheel@yahoogroups.com, "g_e_marshall"
wrote:
> was, though, involved with the ROM4 (electric pianos) for the
> Kseries, and the new PCR2 Classic Keys Rom for the PC2 family. He
> says more info and some demos should be up soon. He mentioned the
> following new sounds and claims they will give the Nord a run for
> its' money. (actually a slightly stronger opinion, yet admittedly
> biased!)
> >
> Its got Clav (both pickups plus release thump), PIanet, RMI, CP80
> (dual strike), ARP String Ensemble, Mellotron (str, choir, flute)
> as well as more vintage-sounding KB3, Rhodes and Wurly programs.
> >
>
> Just thought I'd post this for the record, since the KB3 and the
> Classic Keys ROM could be considered a "clone" and might be of
> interest to a future archive searcher.
>
> Discuss...
> Greg